To be near unto God - pagina 527

is of a noble mind, a limit is put upon these differences, a spirit of love prevails, which of And where love itself opens a way of escape. dwells, the Lord commands this blessing, that

that

hearts remain united. But next to this, alas, how many families there are in which pains are not spared to measure out the difference as broadly as possible, to put the sharpest arrow, as long as it is not poisonous, on one's bow, and where again and again husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters face one another like furies. This is always the same antithesis which we have indicated. This* sinful earth brings us no world, no family or church, without differences or disputes. But it all depends whether a dispute in family or in church finds an atmosphere of love and peace, or one of bitterness and anger. And now the Apostle points out that cherishing the atmosphere of love and peace is not only a Christian duty, which brings gladness and comfort into life, but that it Js also a necessary requisite for the cultivation of life in fellowship with God. A child of God can, and indeed must, be near unto God. and live in communion with God. even amid conditions of restlessness and strife. He who perseveres obtains this blessed But, 0, it is made thereby unspeakably end. much more difficult. Where the atmosphere that surrounds us is charged with evil electricity, and the tongue can not be held in leash, and discord rends the robe of love, and the passion of strife breaks loose, everything draws the heart away from communion with its God. There the peace of God, that passeth all understanding, can not fill the soul. There is no calm there and no in523

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